Chu Xinian gripped Xie Jingyuan’s shoulders, caught between doubt and pondering. He didn’t know whether to push him away or hug him tighter. It wasn’t until the person in his arms gradually regained consciousness and frowned, emitting a vague murmur, that Chu Xinian withdrew his hands as if he had been electrocuted.
Hastily, Chu Xinian pushed Xie Jingyuan aside, fearing that he would wake up and be unable to explain the situation clearly. However, before he could react, he unexpectedly met with a pair of narrowed, half-closed eyes.
“…”
Chu Xinian did not expect Xie Jingyuan to wake up so quickly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Are you awake?”
Xie Jingyuan looked slightly dazed. He remained silent and closed his eyes again, unconsciously snuggling against Chu Xinian’s shoulder. After a moment, in a hoarse voice, he asked, “What are you doing?”
He looked sluggish, eyes narrowed, akin to a ferocious creature retracting its claws, at least harmless for the moment.
Chu Xinian pondered for a while and gave a cautious reply, “Keeping warm.”
Xie Jingyuan looked at him motionlessly at his reply, then closed his eyes. He made a disapproving sound in his throat and muttered to himself, “It’s quite hot.”
His response was different from what Chu Xinian had imagined, but it was surprisingly calm. Xie Jingyuan lay naked under the sheets with another man, but he did not seem angry or even slightly irritated. It was as if the sunrise in the west was less surprising.
Feeling the need to explain himself, Chu Xinian said, “It was an impulsive act, General. Please don’t be offended.”
Xie Jingyuan seemed unconcerned, even finding a more comfortable position in Chu Xinian’s embrace. He didn’t even open his eyes as he replied, “Hmm.”
Who knew what his “Hmm” meant? Even Chu Xinian, who could see through people’s hearts, was not sure.
It was a rare moment of speechlessness for Chu Xinian. Seeing that Xie Jingyuan showed no intention of getting up, he could only lift the blankets and try to get out of bed himself. However, his waist was suddenly grabbed as Xie Jingyuan pulled him back, making him fall back onto the bed.
Now, Chu Xinian was on top, and Xie Jingyuan was underneath him.
To steady himself, Chu Xinian could only lean next to Xie Jingyuan. His dark, flowing hair cascaded over his shoulders, untouched by the mundane world. In a low voice, he said, “General?”
“Didn’t you say you were keeping me warm?” Xie Jingyuan lay beneath him, his long eyelashes casting a shadow, his lips still colorless. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “How are you going to keep me warm if you leave?”
His shoulder, exposed to the air, quickly cooled again. The glowing charcoal brought him no relief.
Chu Xinian seemed to have found a reasonable and logical excuse. This excuse could convince both himself and Xie Jingyuan. After a few seconds, he slowly lay back down, hugging Xie Jingyuan again. He then made an agreeing sound, as if answering the question from before.
Xie Jingyuan pressed himself against Chu Xinian’s chest, with unfamiliar thoughts. Without realizing it, he raised his head, and his dry lips brushed against Chu Xinian’s chin, causing both of them to freeze simultaneously.
“…”
Chu Xinian squeezed Xie Jingyuan’s hand tightly, silently reminding himself to remain calm and not panic. He knew that the more critical the situation, the more important it was to remain calm.
Keep calm.
Chu Xinian had to act as if nothing had happened, but his racing heartbeat gave away his emotions.
Being so close to Chu Xinian’s chest, Xie Jingyuan naturally noticed this sign. His eyelashes trembled as he looked at Chu Xinian’s slightly prominent Adam’s apple. Acting on impulse, he reached out his hand and gently stroked it, saying in a hoarse voice, “Chu Xinian…”
Chu Xinian’s fingers twitched as if he wanted to stop Xie Jingyuan, but ultimately, he made no move. Suppressing the unusual itch on his Adam’s apple, he uttered a slightly puzzled sound, “Hmm?”
“Nothing.” Xie Jingyuan closed his eyes without another word, slowly retracted his hand, and rested it around Chu Xinian’s waist, embracing this human warmer.
As the candle burned down, the surroundings gradually became dim and blurry. In the darkness, the sense of touch was magnified countless times.
Chu Xinian could even feel the warm jade pendant hanging from Xie Jingyuan’s neck, as well as the uneven scar on the right side of his face, which contrasted with the smooth and delicate left side.
Xie Jingyuan’s body, once robust from leading troops in battle, had acquired a layer of frailty from a long illness. However, at that moment, he lay calm and obedient in Chu Xinian’s embrace.
Unable to resist, Chu Xinian gently touched Xie Jingyuan’s scarred right cheek in the darkness. Then he adjusted the quilt, closed his eyes, and fell asleep. He thought he would not be able to sleep, but drowsiness came in an instant, and he quickly sank into a deep sleep.
Inadvertently, he missed the sound of System’s notification.
[Ding!]
[The villain’s blackening level has dropped to 83%. Keep up the good work and continue your efforts! You can do it~]
The next morning, Chu Xinian unusually woke up late. When he opened his eyes, the room was empty, with only a slight warmth remaining next to him. Xie Jingyuan was nowhere to be seen.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Chu Xinian replied with a nodding sound, “Where is the General?”
Yun Que looked outside and then lowered his voice, “I asked around, it seems that the person dressed in black who was brought in yesterday wanted to commit suicide. The General and the Crown Prince went in, as well as Doctor Wan.”
Qin Shuang wanted to commit suicide?
Chu Xinian smiled at the comment. Yes, from a strict point of view, this person was Qin Daoyan’s dead soldier. If his mission failed, it might implicate Qin Daoyan, so the best solution would be suicide.
However… there were many things in this world more painful than death.
Chu Xinian threw the cloth into the basin, inquired about Qin Shuang’s whereabouts, and went to Yun Que’s side. As expected, they were intercepted by Jiu Yong at the entrance of the prison.
Yun Que expressed his disdain for Jiu Yong’s coffin-like face, “Why don’t you disappear? Move aside.”
Jiu Yong looked coldly at Yun Que, raised his sword to stop her, and hinted, “This is a restricted area. No unauthorized personnel are allowed.”
Chu Xinian looked at Jiu Yong, seemingly deep in thought, and quickly understood his intention. He smiled, walked down the stairs, and entered the prison, surprisingly without being stopped by Jiu Yong.
Yun Que blinked in confusion, not understanding the situation. She unconsciously wanted to follow him, but Jiu Yong stopped her.
Yun Que felt frustrated, “Why are you stopping me!”
JiuYong frowned, “I said that unauthorized personnel are not allowed.”
The General only ordered Chu Xinian to be allowed in; he said nothing about allowing Yun Que.
The prison was deep and dark, permeated with dampness. The smell of decay mingled with the rusty stench of blood, creating a distinct aura of death. Chu Xinian ignored the guards on either side and followed the lighted, winding path until he stopped in front of a cell.
Qin Shuang lay half-dead inside, and Doctor Wan was bandaging his head. The back of his head was a mass of bloody flesh, clearly indicating his desire to die. Fortunately, this era possessed inner strength, otherwise, Qin Shuang would have left for the underworld long ago.
The Crown Prince covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, standing and watching. Xie Jingyuan stood with his hands behind his back. Hearing the commotion behind him, he turned and saw Chu Xinian standing a little ways away.
“Why don’t you come here, what are you standing there for?” Xie Jingyuan raised an eyebrow. The other half of his face was hidden by a mask, preventing anyone from discerning his full expression.
Chu Xinian and this prison were truly incompatible. He often wore white clothes, free of any dust, and his eyes always carried a hint of an enigmatic smile, which made him unpredictable. The blood and screams around him were isolated by an invisible barrier, unable to stain him in the slightest.
Xie Jingyuan’s gaze darkened.
However, the more carefree and pure Chu Xinian appeared, the more others wished to witness his state of confusion and infatuation. The cleaner and brighter he was, the more they wished to stain him with filth.
Xie Jingyuan raised his hand and adjusted his cloak over his shoulders. Inevitably, he let out a sigh. Then, he walked over to the cell door, and unlocked the iron chains, making a clanking sound.
“I knew you would come.” Xie Jingyuan blurted out to Chu Xinian, his lips curved into a sinister smile.
The Crown Prince seemed to want to show his intelligence and echoed, “I knew you were coming.”
Xie Jingyuan shot him a grim look.
Chu Xinian paid no attention to the conversations between the two. He recalled the events of the previous night, feeling somewhat unusual. Unconsciously avoiding Xie Jingyuan’s gaze, he turned to Qin Shuang and asked, “What happened to him?”
The Crown Prince snorted coldly, “He hit his head against the wall, wanting to die. But the guards found him. It’s useless to hold him; we can’t get anything out of him.”
Qin Shuang’s jaw was reattached by Wan Jimiao, but his limbs were dislocated, making it difficult for him to move. Hearing this, he stared at the Crown Prince with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth, “I won’t say anything. Just kill me!”
The Crown Prince, with malicious intent, deliberately pointed at Chu Xinian and said, “He was the one who threw the pepper powder at you, not I. Why are you looking at me like that?”
Predictably, Qin Shuang looked at Chu Xinian again, grinding his teeth in frustration. He had not expected to stumble and fall into the hands of a feeble, and helpless, good-for-nothing weakling.
Thus, Chu Xinian realized that Qin Shuang lacked independent thinking and could easily be swayed by a few words from others. After a moment’s reflection, he smiled and asked, “Are you trying to protect Qin Daoyan?”
His tone was strange, with a hint of pity, and his gaze concealed sympathy. It was as if Qin Shuang was pitiful.
At the mention of the name “Qin Daoyan”, Qin Shuang immediately shut his lips tight, refusing to utter a single word. However, he was still intrigued by Chu Xinian’s tone, and his eyes, swollen from the pepper powder, stared at him.
Chu Xinian slowly rubbed the cuff of his sleeve and asked aloud, “You killed Jiu Niang, didn’t you? Born from the same root, yet so quick to betray each other.”
The Crown Prince did not understand what Chu Xinian was trying to do, but he still did not believe that he could make Qin Shuang talk.
Xie Jingyuan calmly observed Chu Xinian, wondering what he had in mind.
Qin Shuang felt provoked and angrily blurted out, “She has betrayed our foster father’s grace. She deserves to die.”
“Our foster father’s grace?”
Chu Xinian was very good at exploiting people’s weaknesses. Hearing this, he let out a light chuckle and said casually, “You are all martial talents naturally gifted with exceptional aptitude. It is a pity that you have recognized a thief as your father, not realizing that you are being taken for a ride in the end”.
The thief he was referring to was, naturally, Qin Daoyan.
Qin Shuang had immense respect for his adoptive father. Fuelled by anger, he fought against his injuries, wanting to kill Chu Xinian, “You are talking nonsense!”
Chu Xinian maintained his calm and composure. He spoke slowly again, “Aren’t you curious about how your birth parents died?”
“Aren’t you curious to know where Qin Daoyan found so many orphans to adopt, and why these orphans happen to have an exceptional talent for martial arts?”
Qin Shuang’s body stiffened for a moment, his eyes suddenly widened and he breathed heavily, nervously waiting for Chu Xinian’s next answer. Even the Crown Prince pricked up his ears, wanting to hear the reason.
At that moment, Chu Xinian inexplicably closed his mouth and remained silent.
Qin Shuang gritted his teeth and blurted out, “Tell me!”
His emotions stirred.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you!”
There were broken stones on the ground, and Xie Jingyuan forcefully kicked one, which hit Qin Shuang squarely, knocking out one of his teeth and choking him. Making it difficult for him to speak.
Xie Jingyuan’s gaze turned malevolent, and in a cold tone, he said, “I will kill you first!”
This person could not be left alive; he would seek revenge in the future, causing endless trouble.
Doctor Wan was standing nearby and, hearing this, angrily threw down his medicine box, “If you want to kill him, why did you call me to save him? I am an old man. I have spent half a day preparing medicines and putting needles in him. And now you say you want to kill him. Are you kidding me?!”
He was so angry that he almost tore off his beard. He rushed forward to reason with Xie Jingyuan, but Chu Xinian stopped him and reassured him, “Doctor Wan, don’t be angry. General Xie was speaking in anger. Of course, we won’t kill him.”
Xie Jingyuan smiled coldly.
Doctor Wan trembled with rage, ”You bunch of murderers! If you get a headache or fever in the future, don’t come to me again. Kill and save, save and kill. You treat human lives as a joke!”
After speaking, he picked up his medicine box and stormed indignantly out of the cell.
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue and looked at Chu Xinian again, “What were you going to say just now, why didn’t you continue? I am waiting to hear it.”
Chu Xinian smiled and said, “Does the Crown Prince know that sixteen years ago, Qin Daoyan led an army to conquer the Hu Tribe in the north and annihilated thirty thousand of them?”
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and nodded, “It seems there was such a thing.”
Chu Xinian walked slowly in front of Qin Shuang, mimicking his facial features in the air with a casual tone, “And this person has deep eye sockets, pale yellow irises, and an eagle-like hooked nose. He has half Hu lineage.”
Xie Jingyuan slightly raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding his meaning. Ignoring Qin Shuang’s pale face, he added, as if enjoying the spectacle, “Qin Daoyan massacred thirteen tribes of the Hu Tribe, as well as dozens of villages. He spared no one, regardless of age or sex. At the time, he even faced the accusations of the Imperial Censor, who called his actions excessively ruthless”.
Where did so many orphans come from and why were they all exceptionally talented in martial arts?
One could only say that these orphans had been carefully selected.
But what if they came across children with both parents alive, how could they turn them into orphans?
The answer was obvious.
Qin Shuang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, shaking uncontrollably. He gasped heavily, unable to utter a word. What did Chu Xinian mean, that Qin Daoyan killed his parents?!
Chu Xinian looked at Qin Shuang but said nothing. He gestured to Xie Jingyuan and the Crown Prince to leave together.
As the cell door closed, they heard Qin Shuang’s frantic shouts behind them.
Chu Xinian seemed oblivious and waited until they were far away before saying to Xie Jingyuan, “General, if he still refuses to say a word before tonight, then let him go.”
Xie Jingyuan frowned, “Why?”
Chu Xinian replied, “A silent witness is of no use. If he does not speak all night, Qin Daoyan will surely become suspicious. Letting this person return will dispel his doubts and prevent Qin Daoyan from increasing his guard and sending assassins to silence him.”
The Crown Prince said, “Are you not afraid that he will tell Qin Daoyan the truth, that we have captured him?”
Chu Xinian replied, “Would you tell the truth to someone who might be the murderer of your parents?”
The words he had just spoken had sown doubt in Qin Shuang’s heart. His reaction showed that he was not indifferent. If Qin Shuang wanted to find out the truth and return to Qin Daoyan’s side, he would surely conceal having been captured by Xie Jingyuan.
The Crown Prince asked suspiciously, “But how do you know that Qin Daoyan killed his parents? What if it turns out to be false?”
Chu Xinian raised an eyebrow and asked in turn, “When have I ever said that Qin Daoyan killed his parents?”
He merely mentioned that Qin Daoyan had massacred villages of the Hu Tribe more than a decade ago and that Qin Shuang happened to have some Hu lineage in his appearance. He said no more.
Sometimes, giving too much detail can be misleading. Revealing just enough increases credibility.
Chu Xinian only suggested a hypothetical conjecture about the suspicious origin of the orphans under Qin Daoyan’s command. He subtly steered Qin Shuang in that direction, gradually sowing discord in his relationship with Qin Daoyan.
As to whether Qin Daoyan killed the parents of those orphans, perhaps heaven only knew.
The Crown Prince slowly exhaled, “Chu Xinian, you are cunning.”
Suddenly, he began to believe that Chu Xinian was not on Prince Jin’s side. Prince Jin could not control someone like him.
However, the Crown Prince did not like Chu Xinian’s overconfidence and countered by saying, “If he does not act according to your speculations, let’s see how you end up.”
Chu Xinian smiled and said, “Your Highness, there are no guarantees in the world. Most things depend on chance”.
The Crown Prince waved his hand, not wanting to say more, “I’m leaving. It is not appropriate for me to be seen out all night. Remember to hide that letter.”
The last sentence was addressed to Xie Jingyuan. In Jiu Niang’s handwritten letter, the phrase “remembering the chaos at Taian Gate in the past” hid too many hidden implications with significant implications. The Crown Prince and Xie Jingyuan seemed to know something, but they did not tell Chu Xinian.
Chu Xinian did not care. After all, he would find out eventually. These two could not keep it from him for long.
Before leaving, the Crown Prince seemed to remember something and asked Xie Jingyuan with sudden interest, ”By the way, Prince Guangping is hosting a talent banquet tomorrow. I remember he also sent you an invitation. Are you going?”
Xie Jingyuan lacked enthusiasm, “No.”
Chu Xinian interjected, “Yes.”
The two spoke at the same time, attracting the Crown Prince’s gaze.
Xie Jingyuan looked at Chu Xinian, his fine eyebrows furrowed, “What’s the good of going? Just a bunch of pedantic scholars.”
The Crown Prince said, “Ah, I don’t agree with you on that. Chu Xinian, don’t listen to him. The talent banquet is very amusing. If he doesn’t take you, I will.”
After saying this, the Crown Prince gave Chu Xinian a knowing look, giving the impression that he was not going to a talent banquet, but to a brothel.
The author has something to say:
Crown Prince: Do you want to have fun, are you coming or not?
Chu Xinian (excited): Coming, coming, coming!
Xie Jingyuan: …
UGH CHU XINIAN IS ATTRACTIVELY SMART LIKE DANGGGGG HAHAHDHEHEHRGEE GOT ME GIGGLING AND SHIIII
+1111
CHU XINIAN IS ATTRACTIVELY SMART LIKE HE GOT ME GIGGLING AND SHIIIII FOR REALLL
I’m excited for the banquet
Chu Xinian is my favorite type of character. He is unintentionally seductive, smart, cunning, but also caring and not indifferent to someone’s pain. I love how he decided to warm up ML without hesitation when he knew that it was necessary.